Area StudiesArea StudiesSubject CentreSubject Centre

A Personal ReflectionA Personal Reflection

Dr. Susan HodgettDr. Susan HodgettukCASA

UK Council of Area Studies Associations

Baseline informationBaseline informationLTSN Subject Centre for Languages, LTSN Subject Centre for Languages,

Linguistics and Area StudiesLinguistics and Area Studies

Area Studies communities are highly diverse, and take Area Studies communities are highly diverse, and take their identity either from the specific country or region of their identity either from the specific country or region of study, or from the particular discipline which they apply to study, or from the particular discipline which they apply to that study. The notion of Area Studies originated in the that study. The notion of Area Studies originated in the U.S. in the post war period, when the division of the world U.S. in the post war period, when the division of the world into distinct spheres of influence sparked academic studies into distinct spheres of influence sparked academic studies of those areas, characterised by an emphasis on policy of those areas, characterised by an emphasis on policy issues. In the UK, the term covers both the teaching of issues. In the UK, the term covers both the teaching of interdisciplinary programmes focused on a particular interdisciplinary programmes focused on a particular country or area, and the strand within languages that country or area, and the strand within languages that focuses on the socio-political aspects of the countries focuses on the socio-political aspects of the countries where the language is spoken. The three most widely where the language is spoken. The three most widely taught areas are Europe, America and Iberia/Latin-taught areas are Europe, America and Iberia/Latin-America. America. http://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/1414/http://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/1414/LLASBaselinefinal.rtfLLASBaselinefinal.rtf

What is it?What is it? The most widely offered programmes are in (Contemporary) European The most widely offered programmes are in (Contemporary) European

Studies (78) and American (or US) Studies (46). Hispanic and Iberian Studies (78) and American (or US) Studies (46). Hispanic and Iberian Studies (19) and Latin American (or Spanish- or Ibero-American) Studies (19) and Latin American (or Spanish- or Ibero-American) studies (16) are also widely taught. Regional studies of the British studies (16) are also widely taught. Regional studies of the British Isles are offered in several universities as Scottish (9), Irish (7), Celtic Isles are offered in several universities as Scottish (9), Irish (7), Celtic (7) and British (4) Studies. Similar numbers offer Central (4) and East (7) and British (4) Studies. Similar numbers offer Central (4) and East European (or Soviet) Studies (7), Islamic Studies (9), Jewish (or Israeli) European (or Soviet) Studies (7), Islamic Studies (9), Jewish (or Israeli) studies (9), Middle Eastern (or Near Eastern) Studies (8), Persian studies (9), Middle Eastern (or Near Eastern) Studies (8), Persian Studies (7), African studies (4) and various Asian studies - Asian (3), Studies (7), African studies (4) and various Asian studies - Asian (3), Asia Pacific (3), South and South East Asia (5), East Asia (2), Black Asia Pacific (3), South and South East Asia (5), East Asia (2), Black and South Asian (1). One or two programmes are also available under and South Asian (1). One or two programmes are also available under each of Afro-Portuguese, Australian, Brazillian, Canadian, Caribbean, each of Afro-Portuguese, Australian, Brazillian, Canadian, Caribbean, Commonwealth, Sikh and Sinhalese Studies. In some respects Commonwealth, Sikh and Sinhalese Studies. In some respects Development (or Third World) studies (39) may be included as a Development (or Third World) studies (39) may be included as a cognate area.cognate area.

In addition to specified degree programmes, area studies units are In addition to specified degree programmes, area studies units are widely taught as part of degrees in other subjects, especially in widely taught as part of degrees in other subjects, especially in modern languages and English, but also in Geography, History, modern languages and English, but also in Geography, History, Economics, Politics, International Relations, Sociology.Economics, Politics, International Relations, Sociology. http://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/1414/LLASBaselinefinal.rtfhttp://www.llas.ac.uk/resourcedownloads/1414/LLASBaselinefinal.rtf

Broad and Wide-Broad and Wide-LLAS events sinceLLAS events since

2000 (79)2000 (79) African StudiesAfrican Studies (6) (6) American StudiesAmerican Studies (6) (6) Asia-Pacific StudiesAsia-Pacific Studies (1) (1) Canadian StudiesCanadian Studies (3) (3) Caribbean StudiesCaribbean Studies (2) (2) Celtic StudiesCeltic Studies (1) (1) Central European StudiesCentral European Studies (2) (2) CultureCulture (3) (3) East Asian StudiesEast Asian Studies (3) (3) East European StudiesEast European Studies (1) (1) European Union (EU)European Union (EU) (1) (1) GlobalisationGlobalisation (4) (4) Hispanic StudiesHispanic Studies (2) (2) Intercultural competenceIntercultural competence (5) (5) InterdisciplinarityInterdisciplinarity (11) (11) Latin-American StudiesLatin-American Studies (4) (4) Less Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) LanguagesLess Widely Used and Lesser Taught (LWULT) Languages (10) (10) Middle-Eastern StudiesMiddle-Eastern Studies (3) (3) MultidisciplinarityMultidisciplinarity (5) (5) Scottish StudiesScottish Studies (2) (2) South Asian StudiesSouth Asian Studies (3) (3) South-East Asian StudiesSouth-East Asian Studies (1) (1)

Subjects and ChallengesSubjects and Challenges

Interdisciplinarity and inter-cultural learning in Area Studies curriculaInterdisciplinarity and inter-cultural learning in Area Studies curricula Integrating interdisciplinarityIntegrating interdisciplinarity Teaching on less commonly taught Area StudiesTeaching on less commonly taught Area Studies Language diversity in Scottish universities: practical strategies to suLanguage diversity in Scottish universities: practical strategies to su

pport teaching and learningpport teaching and learning

France, North Africa and the Middle East: interdisciplinary and multiFrance, North Africa and the Middle East: interdisciplinary and multimedia approachesmedia approaches

The Black and Asian Studies Association and Black Studies in BritaiThe Black and Asian Studies Association and Black Studies in Britainn

Borders and traffic: comparative perspectives on teaching the AmeriBorders and traffic: comparative perspectives on teaching the Americascas

Teaching literatures of the AmericasTeaching literatures of the Americas

Subjects and Challenges contd.Subjects and Challenges contd.

Acculturation process of international studentsAcculturation process of international students

Intercultural dialogue: the way forwardIntercultural dialogue: the way forward Area Studies and the globalised worldArea Studies and the globalised world Globalisation: a conference for undergraduate studentsGlobalisation: a conference for undergraduate students Globalization, a very Canadian perspective Globalization, a very Canadian perspective Bologna ProcessBologna Process Sharing good practice in teaching Area StudiesSharing good practice in teaching Area Studies Curriculum Innovation in the Teaching of Literature and Culture Curriculum Innovation in the Teaching of Literature and Culture

on Modern Foreign Language Programmeson Modern Foreign Language Programmes Teaching Literary Studies Theory in PracticeTeaching Literary Studies Theory in Practice Student study day: Beat Writing DayStudent study day: Beat Writing Day

Benefits to Area Studies Benefits to Area Studies Community from LLAS SCCommunity from LLAS SC

RecruitmentRecruitment Employability/ Key skillsEmployability/ Key skills Identity of Area Studies redefinedIdentity of Area Studies redefined International developments International developments Government policy directions Government policy directions Quality issuesQuality issues QAA Subject ReviewQAA Subject Review Year abroadYear abroad Pedagogical researchPedagogical research Staff Development/ IT/VLEStaff Development/ IT/VLE